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^ TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT r^the other day. "Why do 1 you go to folk dance camp?" Nov; there ±3 a pood question.Speaking . only for myself here are some of the reasons. \ J """ Most important of all r- are the friendships ac- X.) quiredquir . You never really U j. knoknoww a person until you -S havhav.e c \nced,sunr, and •jHvi,o»«.,v.'orlc0(i together at a pjlhi:;—-i—l£olk dance carap. The .nner self come3 out and is subjected to full view of the whole camp. Under such conditions it doesn't take long to find out what a por3on is really like. Camp friendship3 lasting friendships. re is a wealth of information to be -oc. Hot only about dances,but other allied subjects-folk songs,lore,costumes and cooking. -"here comes a time when every camper realises how LITTLE he laiow3 about even a simple dance; sue": i.s proper stylo and form. They are what keep3 •-•very dance from looking alike. It is true that we may never do a. dance ex- actly as a native would do it. But we can try. An;. the trying will come a better understand ing of our fellow men. Sincerely

(A aJLji'ti U ^ MAINE FOLK DA" ICS GAMP n

> It is a difficult task to write in glowing terms about the Sap ten- Folk Dance Camp in Ilea no without running afoul of the sceptics and the over critical,who are / only too glad of the chance to point a scorn- ful finger and yowl "Yah-h-hl You said the same about the spring canrp." Over emphasis defeats its ov/n purpose,so we'll try to keep the adjec- tives at a minimum. Let's lock at the camp thru a leader's eye, .It is not necessary to have mobs of people to have a successful camp. The saturation point is reached at about one hundred as far as get- ting personal help from the leaders is concerned,

We arrived at Sunset Inn,on Kesar Lake,the second night of camp;had a hurried snack of Mrs. Maxwell' s superlative cooking;grabbed an armful of records and walked up the grade to the dance hall to find the regular evening party just get tin-": under way. From then until the following Monday morning the grounds and surroundings wore echoing to the happy voices and dancing feet of folk dance lovers who came from Richmond,Virgin- ia, Mapleton,Maine,and many places between.

The first section was made up of thirty five campers.Twenty five were leaders of dance groups, school teachers,or extension workers. The others were there because they liked tc dance. Believe me,they all got a lot of help from the four lead -ers. In fact, the campers were y so attention,and paid so much attention to all details that they gave a very creditable perfor mance of the Beseda,the last day of camp. Not a polished performance you understand-not in that short space of time-but they got enough of it to see what a gorgeous dance it might be.

Don't got the idea that because we stumbled through the Beseda that we did only complex and difficult dances. No indeed. Aside from that one dance all the others were quite easy. A ~reat deal of time was spent in teaching good form and the proper style of every dance. We quickly discovered that there was a great deal to learn about every dance,no matter how simple the fig- ures might be. There is a great joy in doing a simple danca correctly.

Breakfast was from 8 to 9 every morning,and no one over slept:the early risers saw to that. Then dancing until noon with the time evenly di- vi od between American squares and contras and International dances. Dinner was at 12:30 with a different nationality neal each day. I.iore dan- cing from 2 to 4. Then afternoon coffee and a light snack followed by a discussion period. Supper was at 6:30,another nationality meal. A party every night 3 to 11,during which we were joined by many of the townspeople. Everyone at the parties was invited to join the campers in a late cup of coffee and a bite to eat in the lounge,followed by folk singing that lasted as long as anyone wanted to sing.

The nationality meals,prepared under the cap able eye of Llrs.IIaxwell of West Virginia,were something to rrav e about the reat of ^ your life. We'v e said this before, C^lczC- buuuto xiut wilwxjllx bbeae r repeating:you've never really oaten until you have ~7 X) eaten a meal at a folk dance camp CsS/v managed by Jane Parwell and cooked by Mrs. Maxwell. How they do it for the price charged is beyond all human understanding.

The only meal that I did not particularly care for was the supper of Indian Eight Boy Curry.And it was all my own fault,too. For some good reason supper time was advanced a half hour and at 6 o'clock when the supper bell rang,I was in the middle of a shower. As if that were not enough right in the middle of the meal there came a long distance 'phone call from New Haven, Conn, and by the time that was ended the Indian Eight Boy Curry was a cold insipid meal. We al- ways learn the hard way,it seems,and never again did I take meal-time for granted. Mr.and Mrs. Jack Wilson of Richmond,Virginia,were on this particular supper committee,and Jack was a most impressive Indian,all six foot eight of him.

Michael Herman preserved hi3 standing at the head of every chow line. A veteran of many folk danco camps,Michael knew to the split second when the dinner bell would ring. Apparently ab- sorbed in listening to a group chatting about a new dance just learned,he would nonchalantly stroll away toward tho dining hall just as the bell rang. It was psychic,nothing less.

There was more than enough to eat at every meal too,and a good thing there was,for there were some able tronchermen at camp. Notably Dick Castncr,Davo Ashman,and "Obie" O'brion. I'd like my accordionist,Bob McQuiUcn,there sometime. What a good time that quartet would have eating together. _ rv The dining room underwent 1 s- ^ C 5 MN , V a complete change of motif for each nationality meal. A striking example .was the ( ( Smorgasbord supper,Sunday V -v'lV-- ni gh t. Ano ther, d e 3 ervIng special Mention was tho How England fari.i scene,com plate,ovon to smoke lazing up from th„ clilmnoy. ;.nd bo fore leaving tho subject of ea: uiuch praise should bo given Bill Holt of Fori for Lis Italian street HoW I fol£ i-wwvnnnnf s inr.Q r r o lo. Thru - aftor five out t is a, ho successive Iiu char ic hka kolos. strolled about vi- the dini ng roo: sing in,fj a s org for cash table. Tho fact that every ''Ital ian" tune was up on the spur • tho mcment added more to the s cone than othor Vt. * _i_O •w' • "j-ii " O .•ntly,yo . u lov or3 of folk son Jo ViJ.. lot more of Dili Holt before .-ao; go o; u protege of diehard Dyor-3onnott. is sure to r :iie top as, a ioj.,; : —i-. r.

Tho second V. Cw tb ii. c apa c i ty c amp-75. his included ton or twelve "haegovur s " from tlw first scction.About tho same proportion of toachor3 and dancers too.Tho folks staying over from tho first section,volunteered themselves as a committee to completely change tho over-all decorations of the main dining room.It's about time to say that the main theme of this Septem- ber camp \.as Swiss Alpine.

It had rained cats,dogs,and large cannon balls the night before,and during the early morning too,but it lot up in the middle of the forenoon and we wore able to scour the woods in search of autumn leaves and greenery for tho overhead decorations. Sura,wo got wot, but what of it? Wo kept moving and you don't catch coif", if you do that. And wo probably looked like drowned rata to the early arrivals of the second section. Only two of them saw us at our worst :JIerb Warren of Fairleo,Vt.and Charlotte Blaine of Jaffrey, N.tf. and they wore both old friends. Michael recorded for posterity some of working moments. Right in the middle of it all,3cmeone put on a kolo record and for two or throe minutes work was forgotten.

This is beginning to sound like a work camp or kitchen detail. The dance hit of the camp without question was the Kucharicliko kolo (and I hope I've spoiled it right)Svcn before wo had learned the dancc,its insistent and compelling rhythm was so fascinating that the record wa3 played over and over again. After learning it, we danced it at the slightest provocation or without any. There wore sovoral records of it at camp and it got so that it v/as a disappoint- ment not to dance it a couple of times after each meal.

Aloxandrofska and the Honeysuckle Waltz were favorites also. The latter calling for some nice coordination,although the figures were relativ- 7

-ly easy. s V "v The opening night of each section v' was get acquainted night. This can be a very dull and dreary affair. Jane ":3~S Farwell however,makes it very excit- r' ing with an excellent choice of mix- • • ers and play party game 3. At the ^gP-v ' , end of the party the camp was a ' unit and continued so to the last goodbye. Have always detested play party games. With Jane leading them they are fun,as they arc sup- posed to bo. Voluhteer committees for the evening parties made each one different from the previous onu. Two that stand out in our minds were the Kitchen Junket party that carried over after the late coffee snack with some beautiful folk songs by Bill Holt,and an impersonation that half the camp is still puzzling over. Then there was the Ukrainian Wedding given on the final night of camp that would have dene credit to profession- al performers. Of course a stunning bride and groom did not detract from the occasion. Never, never,shall we forget the look on the face of the best man(Dick Castner)whilo he was eating broad and salt.Lake Kozar lowered quite percept ibly as soon as the ceremony was end^d.

Mary Ann Herman was excellent in the role of narrator. All we had to dp was to act out her descriptions. Shu was the one who made it a sue cess. The wedding theme was carried out for tho entire party. We oven threw money into a hat for the privilodge of dancing with the "bride". This "dowry" was turned into tho general fund of the camp and wont to help pay for* tho even- ing refreshments for the non campers visiting us. Not 'til the party was most over did I dis- cover that it was my hat being kicked around the 8 * . • r V^kws. ; floor. Have needed a fishing \ ' hat for quite a while. •ffr-K V k i Concluding tho evening's \ j >••'•• ! activities was tho street j fair and country auction that 1 is becoming as traditional to *r-fT"'--t-'» • tho Maine camps as tho McCoy- / / j I Hatfield camps at Oglebay.V/o / j j ) . paid for all our refreshments 4 ; thon sold everything that was )' \ i not nailed down. Hid '' souven- / | , irs brought good prices,too. ; , ••. v h Alan Draper spoiled me as an ;—I j. . .. auctioneer and ho did a darn od good job.During the party Mrs.Maxwell had sold chancos on a folic dance shirt and a real authentic Swiss costume.The winning numbers, drawn during a break in the auction,wore hold by :.Ir.?arrington,Center Lovell,Maine,and whoso hall we had used for dancing,and Mrs .Bon- O'Brien of K'orth Br idgton, Maine. (Tho dross fitted her). Long after the rest of tho camp was asloop a dozen of U3 sat around the dining room. Wo got Bill Holt to singing folk songs and giving imitations of notod folk singers. Wo relived tho events of tho camp,and told the now people about funny episodes of other folk dance camps. We finally broke it up about four a.m. Wo could no longer hold up our heads nor keep our eyes open'.

Yes,September 12-19,1949 will live forever in the memories of over a hundred folk dancers. All through tho winter we'll remember the Alp- ine glow of tho sunset behind tho White Mts. and remember the words of Gus Hoim. "No matter where you go,there's something about those monn tains that call ycu back." (R.P,) 9

I LIKE DANCING By MURRAY DRILLER

Sections of our country,because of its cli- mate, background and history of its peoples,exhi bits many types of dancing,and that's good,cause I like dancing. New England has its contras which have become characteristic through its people and its lead- ers, and it's great,'cause I like dancing. California has a flair for decoration as well as an ability for making new folk dances,and it's wonderful,'cause I like dancing. Colorado,with outstanding leaders and schools of dance,have revived and are reviving the Old Tyme Dances,and are continually experimenting with new types and versions of Square Dances, and it's marvelous,'cause I like dancing. Texas,with its different parts and many in- fluences has come forward with many types of stylish lingo,patter,and square dance steps as well as dances,and I say we are moving along, 'cause I like dancing.

If you gather from this article that I ap- prove of it all,you're right,because with all the differences in Folk and Square Dancing off- ered by our leaders,which has led to the advance ment of Folk and Square Dancing to where it is today. We have advanced BECAUSE of the variety, which is the spice of dancing,and BECAUSE of the hard work of the leaders,and so again I 3ay it's great,'cause I LIKE DANCING. 10

REPORT PROM THE ALBANY FOLK DAPCEuS

Saturday nights during tho summer many o.f us danced at Schneider's Farm at Nassau Lake,where Reuben Merchant,our caller,and his Mountaineers led weekly dances. Arnold Waxman's Tuesday night square and folk dance group mot at the Jewish Community Center throughout the summer.

About 15 of thoso who came to our Friday night dances last spring had a bad case of "dan cing feet" and didn't mind the heat,so we also had special folk dance meetings on Wednesday night all summer. This crew has learned many new dances and practiced up on the old ones. They have also started to make costumes for ex- hibition folk dancing. Toward the end of th3 summer this group decided to continue permanent ly as a group interested primarily in folk dan cing;they gave themselves tho name "The Albany Folk Dancers".

Regular Friday night dances are starting on September 25,at the Guild Ilall of the Cathedral of All Saints, Special events and plans for the future will be announced at that time. Admission is 50^ and we plan a special low price to groups who come in squares.

The Albany Folk Dancers have been invited to dance at tho folk festival in Rockefeller Cen- ter in September, Duo to tho fact that our group isn't yet completely costurned,active participa- tion will have to wait for another year. Six of our group are going down to watch and perhaps photograph some of the dances. Wo also plan to go out to the Community Folk Dance Center some Saturday night for some New York Folk Dancing, 11 WHAT ONE TOWN IS DOING

BRYANT POND,MAIN? No other town in tho state- of Maine has gone in nope wholeheartedly for square a he. folk can cing than Bryant Pond. Every week a combination square an- folk dance party is held In the Grange Hall. Started as a means of affording the boys and ,;irls of the town with good whole some recreation,there are now many oi' the old er people getting just as much fun . ancl relaxation fror.i these get toget hers.as the youngs t e rs. Interest in this form of recreation began when Miss Jane Farwell of Dodgeville,Wisconsin, head of the Rural Recreation Service cane to Ox- ford County in the spring of 1947, This visit was sponsored by the Extension Service. Miss Farwell taught two recreation schools,each of which lasted three days. She taught the leaders of young people's groups how to conduct play party game3-and dances of all sorts.

A3 a result of her visit there was formed an Oxford County Recreation Council,the purpose of which was to make trips to nearby towns in the county to teach these dances. However the Coun. cil did not carry out as full a program as plan ned,but a repeat visit by Miss Farwell the next year provided the necessary stinulous,and from 12 then on the Council began going places.

Added impetus to the movement was given by an article written by one of the high school girls about juvenile delinquency., This was prin ted in the school paper and featured her com- ments to the effect that when older people dis- cussed the pranks of the boys and girls of the town they forgot that they were providing them with nothing in the way of clean wholesome rec- reation.

The adult3 of the town took the hint and be- gan to think things over and discuss it among themselves. The girl had been right. They were providing absolutely nothing for their children to do in their spare time. No wonder the kids were getting into more and more serious escapa- des. To the everlasting credit of the parents they did something about it,and a square dance was tried. It worked. At first sponsored by the 4K clubs it soon became a jointly sponsored par- ty by the Franklin Grange and the 4H clubs.

Every dance night the hall was crowded with enthusiastic youngsters. Their parents soon caught on to the idea and the parties became truly family affairs. They not only came with their children,but danced with them after they came. Music was,and is furnished by a record player and square dance records. The player was donated by the Grange and the records by the 4H clubs and their leaders. Each social is usually held on Monday night and lasts from 8 o'clock until 10:30.

The young people soon became folk costume concious and seem to like airndle or full skirts and frilly blouses for the girls or bodice type dresses with full skirts. The boys prefer dunga rees or slacks with sport or Western type shirts. 15

The young people know at least twenty folk dances and as many square and contras. They do them well too,which is astounding for a group of their age limit. And most important of all they dance them joyously,which,after all is the only way to dance.

Certainly this is a worthwhile program for a town to sponsor. Larger places .light well do tho same. If recreation is not provided under adult supervision,you -may bo sure the. kids will seek out whatever recreation they can find. If,thru thoughtlessness nothing is done for then,it is not surprising if a few of thorn wander off tho boaton track. They will be staunch supporters if their elders will find something suitable for them to do with their spare time.

Squaro and folk dancing ha3 proved the answer at Bryant Fond. It is bringing enjoyment to old and young,especially tho young. 'That, could be more pleasant than a weekly gathering of neigh- bors eagerly awaiting the call to "balance the next below'1 or "swing your partner."

Some of tho leaders of the Bryant Pond group are:. .rs.Miriam. McAllister, Mr .&nrs.Earle 'Yhitnoy, Mr,& Mrs.Jay Willard,Mr.?: Mrs.Otis Dudley,Phyl- lis Hathaway, Alicc Far nun, and Richard Co I.e. On the Oxford County Council aro: Mrs.Otis Dudley,Ko-ith Bate3,Rev.Wilbur Bull,Rev.Carl Sea burg,Miss Hope Moody,and Mrs.Buelah Staples.

Tho program will have far reaching results. Much more far reaching than anyone involved now realizes. As said in these pages months ago:you folk dancers will do well to keep your eye on Maine. And keep close watch also on a young 12 year old caller this group has developed. 14

SQUARE DANCE Swing Two Ladies — Music,any Irish jig. I like to use "The Low Backed Car'1 Use any introduction you wish,then:

Join your hands and forward all Forward again for the good of tho hall The head two men take two girls hone. (Their corners as WjII as their partners. Tims the two head men have their partner at their right and their corner girl beside thein at their left. Tho two side men stand in place alone) Head gents turn partner with right hand around Their corner lady with the left hand around They put their arms around both girl3 waists And swing them both around in place. Open it up in a circle of throe And three hands around you go Pop the corner lady under Everybody swing and don't you blunder And all promenade around tho ring.

Th.j figure is repeated for the side gents. It may also bo done for but one man at a time. It all depends on how tho caller is feeling or how much time lie ha3 for the figure.

In the swing two ladies figure,it is a lot safer if the two girls join their free hands. The figure should be done clockwise,and for goodness' sake men,hold on tight. 15 CONTRY DANCE

Lady Walpolo's Reol -- Any tunc your fiddler can play. . •

Any oven number of couples in contra danco for nation. Before tho .dance starts,1st,3rd,5th.etc cross jDver• . They, are tho active couples. Balance and swing tho one below Active couples down tho center with partner Same way back,cast off and ladies chain Half promenade acrosa the set Tj.rn around and right and left back. contihuo as long as desired or until all have returned to original places. Lady Walpolo's Reel is probably the r.iost pop ular of all our contra dances. No dance i3 con- sidered complete without it. In many places it is known as Lady Washington's Reel. It was no doubt given this latter name about tho time of the Revolutionary War.

There is a variant of this dance known in Vermont as The Boston Fancy.I believe the same variant is also found in Maine.

There was no one tune that country fiddlers associated with the dance. They played any 2/4 reel that came to mind,and frequently used a medley of tunes, I learned the dance to the tune known as Twin Sisters. And I now call the figure to I'.iy fiddler's version of Fireman's Reel. How many of yo\x noticed the mistake in last month's contry dance? It is the 1st,3rd etc. couples that cross over. Not the l3t,2nd.etc. Impossible to do a contra dance viith the 1st & 2nd couples crossing over. At least I've never seen it done successfully. IS

FOLK DANCE Totur Danish

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. t JR 'r _ /fa- ( n |— ft r. « The Danco Learned at Maine Folk Dance Camp,1949 from Michael and Mary Herman. Formation:Circle,facing in to center,ladies at partners right.For as many couples as will Intro:Measures 1-8.All join hands and walk to left sixteen walking steps. Meas.1-3 repeated.All walk to right sixteen walking steps. Figure 1 Couples take social dance position.Danco forward to 'center of circle with these steps: Men,step forward on left foot(ct.1)bring right foot to left(ct.and)step forward on left foot(ct.2)hold{ct.and). Ladies reverse of men. This is done on meas.9.M? Meas.10.Couples take two walking steps to the center.Man stops forward on right,left.Lady steps forward on left,right.Think of this figure like this:step together step.stop step, 17 Meas.11-12.Couples retrace steps backward in similar manner as in meas.9-10. Meas.13-16.Couples do polka,turning clock- wise,and moving counterclockwise.Pour polka steps. KEEP IN CIRCLE FORMATION. Meas.19-16 repeated) Repeat entire first fig.

Figure, 2 Meas.1-8.Couples give right hands to partners and do grand right and left.Use either a walking step or polka step,depending on your age or physical condition. Meas.l-S repeated.Continue grand right and left. Then repeat entire dance from figuro 1 with now partner. Continue the dance as long as desired. •SiHKrS This easy Danish dance is an ideal mixer.It is a wonderful introduction to folk dancing. A great many people have the idea that they do not like folk dances.Usually it is because they have never tried any.We like what we are most used to,and too many dancers resent any- thing new,especially a European dance. It Is important that your first folk dance be an easy one done to a catchy tune and Totur is an answer to this.(Incidently it is pronoun- cod, ToeToor)We have seen the dance done by a great many folic3 who had a strong aversion to "folk dancing" and while it would be un- true to say that every one there became devo tees of folk dancing,about a third of them did so and the rest were far more tolerant of such activity than ever before.

We have heard it 3aid that "all Danes dance months before they are born and for years after they are dead." They must be a happy people;their dances are such fun to do. 18 FOLK SONG The Irish Girl

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One evening as I strayed Down l:y tho riverside A looking all around we An Irish girl I spied; So rod and rosy were her cheeks, And yellow was her hair, And costly were the robes of gold Which my Irish girl did wear. Iter boots wore Spanish leather, Which neatly did untie, her hair hung o'er her shoulders. And SllG did begin to sigh. Saying,"Jamie,dearest Jamie, By tho marks of the evergreen, Are you a-going to loave me, And forsake your own Mollie?" My ov/n true love is fairer Than the lillies that do grow, She has a voice that's clearer Than any winds that blow, 19

She's the promise of this country, Like Vonus in the air, And let'her go where're she will, She's tho one and only dear. My love,she'11 not come nigh me For ' all tho moan I make, And neither will she pity me Though my poor heart will break; But wore I of a noble birth And she of low degree. She'd hoar my lamentations And love and pity me.

This is one of the most tuneful of all the shanty boys'songs. It is from an Irish scng:lTho Maid of Timahoo." This is natural enough when it is remembered that many of our first lumber- jacks were Irish,or of Irish derivation.

Tho expression" found in the second verse "by the marks of evergreen" is an Anglicised version of tho Gaelic "och an agus a stoirin mo chroidhe" moaning"alas,and Oh treasurelot of my heart." iHHHHf' A SHORT OUTLINE OF MINSTRELSY "The man that hath not music in his soul, Nor Is not raov'd with concord of sweet sounds Is fit for treasons,strate,gems,and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus? Let no such man be trusted." Shakspeare Minstrelsy reached its zenith about the time of the Middle Ages. Tho minstrels thomsel ves,pampered by the noblemen,were an order or guild of men gained a high standard of living by skillful use of the arts of poetry and music. Their prodesessor3 were the ancient Bards,who were, greatly admired and held in reverence by 20 tho people of Gaul,Britain, Ireland,and the North. From this attitude of the Britons toward their Bards it is easy to conclude that they were lovers of vocal and instrumental music. "Sometimes,"says Bortholi- nus,"when two armies wore standing in order of battle, with their sword3 drawn and their lances extendod,upon tho point of engaging in most furious conflict, the poets have stepped in bet- ween them,and by their soft and fascinating songs calm- ed the fury of the warriors, and prevented bloodshed." The scalds were tho poets and musicians of all the northern nations; and upon the establishment of tho Saxons in Bri tain,the courts of the kings and the castles of the nobles afforded welcome asylum to these early minstrels.

Among tho Danish tribes that over-ran and conquered Britain,the Scalds were held in high est esteem. The word means"smoothers and polish crs of language."Their art was believed to comc from Odin,or Woden,the father of their gods,and their skill v/as thought to bo divine;and they were continually being loaded with honors and rewards by their kings,who boasted of the prow- ess of the Scalds attached to their households.

In the early centuries it v/as customary at banquets and feasts to hand a harp from one per- son to another,and everyone there played upon it in turn,singing a song to its music. These songs wore probably extemporaneous and in self 21 praise of the singer or his family. It is probable that cultivated music was but little known until after the conversion of the Jutes and Angles to Christianity,when missiona ries arrived from Rome to instruct the converts in the art of choral singing as practiced by the early church. As long as they kept their manners and beliefs their Scalds were held in high esti mation. In proportion as literature was introdu ced among them this rude admiration -would begin- to abate,and poetry no longer be a peculiar and coveted profession.

Poetry was cultivated by men of letters,and many of the most popular poems were composed in the quiet leisure of the monasteries. Poets and ininstrel3 therefore traveled adjacent but differ ent paths. The minstrels continued their vocat:' ion for centuries,til long after the Norman con quest in fact. They were still hospitably recei ved in the houses of the.great and retained many of the honors their predecessors had gained for them, Most of the old heroic ballaes were compo sed by these men. Especially the shorter and ru dor metrical romances. The many variants found is proof that they had no scruples about alter ing each others songs;omitting or changing whole stanzas as they saw fit.

Most of the early minstrels clung religious- ly to tho art of entertaining by singing or play ing the harp.Gradually though,more and more of their numbers added mimicry,danc ing,tumbling, and sleight of hand to amuse their audiences.To these latter was given the name of gleemen. About the time of the first crusade we find them mentioned in Provence as troubadours,or sometimes trouveur3 or inventors. Here,as in England,they were the delight of the brave and 22 favorites of the fair,because they sang the deeds of the one and the beauties of the other.

The French troubadours became the founders of French song,and effected a revolutions in the early literature of that country. Traveling from province to province they sang their vers- es in the courts of the princes -and were amply rewarded with clothes,horses,arms and money.

Many of the historian monks complained of the hordes of troubadours that coronations-. 01^ every royal festival allured to the courts.For none of the earls or barons considered their household complete without them. This jealousy fostered by the church, eventually brought about the downfall of the troubadours. So much money was lavished upon them for their maintenance, that the public treasuries were often drained. If encouragement produces excellence,then these performers ought not to have been deficient in skill.

Froissart,recording an entertainment given by Gaston,Earl of Foix,says that he bestowed on the heralds and minstrels the sum of 500 francs; and to the Duke of Tourayn's minstrels gowns, of cloth of gold furred with ermine,valued at 200 francs each.A princely sura for those days.

From Domesday-book it appears that Berdic, the king'3 joculator,had lands in Gloucester- shire. Royer,Henry l's minstrel,founded the hos pital and priory of St.Bartholomew,in West . Springfield;and bretheren of the same order con tributed towards building the church of St.Mary at Beverly,in Yorkshire,as an inscription on one of the pillars still attests.

During the reign of Edward 11,the minstrels claimed such extensive priviledges,and so many 23 dissolute persons assumed that character,that it became necessary to restrain them by express laws. They made an exception however in favor of professional performers and minstrels retain ed by the Icing. A century later,Edward IV,granted to Walter Haliday,marshall,and seven others of his own minstrels,a charter,empowering them to govern and punish when necessary,all such as exercised the profession throughout the kingdom.

This charter neither corrected the abuses, nor retrieved the reputation of the fraternity, which fell into a gradual decline in England. By the time of Queen Elizabeth they wero inclu ded in an act against vagrants,rogues,vagabonds and sturdy beggars,and subjected to the like punishments--an edict which seems to have been the deathblow to this once highly honored pro- fession.

Notwithstanding the depths to which the pro fession ultimately sank,we owe a great debt to art of minstrelsy. They were not only preservers of our early history;they wore creators of great literature as well. Notably the sagas and eddas of tho Norsemen.

Without them the doeds of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table would be lost in his toric oblivion. Without them Robin Hood and lii3 Merry Men would long since have been forgotten. History would be a far duller subject than it is without the minstrelsi who sang and thus pre served the events of their time. (to be continued) 24

POLK LORE

Attic3 are wonderful places, especially an attic as grandfath or had. It occupied the whole top storv of the old farm house and was avoritable treasure chest of discarded clothes,years and years of copies of the "Youth1s Compan ion,New England Homostead,Farm Journal," and piles of forgotten utensils once U3od around tho farm or in the kitchen.

Once,when a small boy,I found a big 3ieve- lilco object, the like 3 of which I'd never seen before. On either side of it were two large"ras per3" on loops of tarred string hanging from two hand whittled maple pegs. Like many others of his ago,Grandfather was always ready to rem oni3co,and he told me that the contraption was used to make potato starch,and proceeded to tell me how he used to help his mother make it. Ho proposed that,just for fun,wo take time off and see if we could make a worthwhile product. So we took the sieve and raspers and a wood- en washtub from tho shed,down to tho brook back of the house. One more trip to tho collar for a heaping peck measure of potatoes and a stiff bristled brush. My job was to scrub the potatoes clean while grandfather scourcd the long nogloc tod sieve and raspers and rinsed out the tub.

The sieve,resting on two cross pieces,was then placed on the wash tub,which had boon fill ed with water. Both of us then began to grate the potatoes,skins and all,into pails. The re- sulting pulp was spread out a littlo at a time upon the surface of the wire sieve,and gently pressed down with a wooden paddle,afterward 25 scraping the residue into tho pig's trough.When we had scraped the entire peck of potatoes and the"raspins"had all gone through the screening, we left the mess to "settle" over night.

Next morning we found the raspings floating on the surface of the water,but a milk-white substance had gathered and settled to the bot- tom of the tub. Grandfather carefully skimmed off the raspings,and with great care poured off the water so as not to disturb the "settlins". Then we carried the tub to a nearby rock and spread the starchy paste on the ledge to dry out in the bright sunlight. By late afternoon our paste had become a brittle cake,which we broke up into small lumps,hardly to be disting uished from modern laundry starch.

Grandfather told me,too,that frequently the farmers would knead wheat flour into the potato pulp,and press this mixture through the sieve, and following the same process of drying they obtained wheat floxir starch. A barrel of potatos averaged about twenty pounds of starch. Aside from the more modern type of machinery,the pro- cess of manufacturing potato starch Is fundemen tally the same today as it was a century ago. •JHHKHr "Just had a woman in my cab from Connecticut" remarked a friendly Boston cab driver,"and she told me about the bad time a fellow in her town is giving all the people. You know in Connecti cut they have a letter and a small number on the automobile registration plate's. Well,it seems this guy is an indertaker. And the plate on his hearse is U-2."(Joe Harrinton in Boston Post) There's nothing quite so painful as a nose that's out of joint. The easiest way to go down hill i3 to get off on the wrong slant. 26 According to the World Boole Encyclopedia the expression "the real McCoy" came about like this

A gentleman by the name of McCoy one after- noon was minding his business drinking a glass of beer in a comer saloon. He v/as approached by a drunk who,in a loud voice and for no rea- son at all,said very unkind things about McCoy and his ancestry. Friends of the drunk tried to dra& him away, explaining that this v/as the great McCoy--one of the top prize fighters of the day. The drunk snorted his disbelief and continued his abusive tactics until McCoy turned and flattened him with one punch.

When the heckler came to,he shook his head, rubbed his jaw and said:"You1re right;he's the real McCoy." This story was told over and over until the expression came to mean "genuine." Last spring a flu epidemic hit the town of Hancock,N.i. causing suspension of all services in the church of the town. This was the first tir/.e in over 70 years that services were not held due to general illness,and recalls the old story that in the days when Hancock's Paul Re- vere bell was tolled for deaths and there were many desperately ill,the bell began tolling one solemn stroke at noon each day. Tne church was watched but no one went in,yet the bell tolled once each noon. Finally,a brave soul went into the belfry to find out who came and tolled the bell,only to discover that a man wa3 shooting across from a neighboring hill,the bullet striking the bell. Justice was meted out to the man and the boll never again tolled its solemn stroke at noon. REGIONAL COOKING New England bows its head to no other part of the country in the art of cooking. Every small town has many natural ' cook3 who are "born with a mixing spoon in one /X hand and a rolling pin in the other." They established the boiled dinner as a Thursday in- ' \ stitution,and —'baked beans and brown bread as a Satur day night supper.They invented baked Indian pud ding and apple pandowdy.

Corn was a gift froir^ the Indians and it did not take our ancestors long to find ways of im- proving the Indian corn mills. One of tho oarly settlers favorite dishes was corn meal pudding, or to give it the more general term,hasty pud- ding. Hundreds of Now Englanders were raised on corn meal mush and milk,and like it too. Every- one who has heard anything about New England cooking knows of tho famous Rhode Island jonny cakes.(yes,it's sometimes spelled "johnny")

The kitchen was the heart of the early New England home;a place where good food was contin uously in preparation. The men of the family might "sot" there in the evening,but it was the woman's battlefield and her sanctuary,and she ran tv/o miles across its floors before breakfast,

A New England farmhouse without a pork barrel in the cellar was something that just did not happen."Salt pork 'n p'taters" was a standard 30

school to Durlacher records;then Ed gave then a review and examination:a square dance medley, specially called with lively .nusic,a different dance figure for each of the couples in the set. Then the unexpected happened:Rev.and Mrs.Chester Fisk of Hanover, IT.II. with their youth group made a grand contribution to the occasion with a spec tacular exhibition of folk dancing-couple dances with a foreign flavor-that is following fast on the heels of the square dance wave.

The evening party for all came up to the ex- pectations of everybody concerned,onlookers and dancers,young and old. Caller and orchestra work ed smoothly together,and it was a delight to see the dancers respond in unison all over the hall. The "Right Approach" from behind the mike got the right results. The Fairlee school group gave another demonstration to Jimmy Packard's music with Ed at the mike. The varied program provided plenty of interest and made a grand good time for everybody. Especially impressive to the ob- server casting an eye about the hall for react- ions were the hundreds of happy faces and the pleased expressions.

Ed Durlacher's contribution to the manifold success of the festival should escape none. He gave unstintingly of his timejhis program was heavy but still he had time to give the boys and girls an ice cream party Sunday evening and meet them at school again the next morning;he found time to talk to many people seeking information, or simply the opportunity to talk. His parting words were:"Try to make everybody happy."

(The Barre,Vt.Daily Times) 31

FESTIVALS Storrs,Conn. A golden moon-near full-smiled dovm on 1200 dancers and 4500 spectators at the annual Conn, Farm and Home Weelc Square Dance Festival. The campus was a maze of color as the dancers whirl ed and spun through an evening of demonstration and general square dancing. The costumes ranged from tee-shirts to frock coats to rumba ruffles to tyrolean and Irish folk dress. And the ages of the dancers ran from John Bourne,77,who was there from Yonicers, ?7.¥. to an 8 year old tot from North Stonington,Conn.

Interested onlookers included Martin Warbur- ton,England,now working temporarily on a farm in Portland,Conn.during a stay in the United States. :io said he hoped to be able to take some of tho American square dances back to England. Miss Auno Pulkkinen of Finland was also v«ry much impressed with the festival,comearing it to some of the midsummer festivals of her own laed.

Some of the best callers of Conn.were there to call for the general dancing. They included: Pop Smith, Wins tod; Deko Fowler, Nov; Haven; Bob Mac- Lean, Portland; Grover Harlow,Storrs;Bob Brundago, Stepny;and Phil Green,Springfield,Mass as guest caller. Warren Schmidt,University of Conn.diroe od the festival. Music for the dancing was fur- nished by A1 Brundago's Pioneers,and before the start of the party the Stafford Springs High School Band gave a band concert.

This was the best of the many festivals here. Not only in attendance,but in the dancing abil- ity of the participants. 30 school to Durlacher records;then Ed gave then a review and examinations square dance medley, specially called with lively .nusic,a different dance figure for each of the couples in the set. Then the unexpected happened:Rev.and Mrs.Chester Pisk of Hanover, IT.II. with their youth group made a grand contribution to the occasion with a spec tacular exhibition of folk dancing-couple dances with a foreign flavor-that is following fast on the heels of the square dance wave.

The evening party for all came up to the ex- pectations of everybody concerned,onlookers and dancers,young and old. Caller and orchestra work ed smoothly together,and it was a delight to see the dancers respond in unison all over the hall. The "Right Approach" from behind the mike got the right results. The Pairlee school group gave another demonstration to Jimmy Packard's music with Ed at the mike. The varied program provided plenty of interest and made a grand good time for everybody. Especially impressive to the ob- server casting an eye about the hall for react- ions were the hundreds of happy faces and the pleased expressions.

Ed Durlacher's contribution to the manifold success of the festival should escape none. He gave unstintingly of his time;his program was heavy but still he had time to give the boys and girls an ice cream party Sunday evening and meet them at school again the next morning;he found time to talk to many people seeking information, or simply the opportunity to talk. His parting words were:"Try to make everybody happy."

(The Barre,Vt.Daily Times) 31

FESTIVALS Storrs,Conn. A golden moon-near full-smiled down on 1200 dancers and 4500 spectators at the annual Conn, Farm and Home Week Square Dance Festival. The campus was a maze of color as the dancers whirl ed and spun through an evening of demonstration and general square dancing. The costumes ranged from tee-shirts to frock coats to rumba ruffles to tyrolean and Irish folk dress. And the ages of the dancers ran from John Bourne,77,who was there from Yonkers,N,Y. to an 8 year old tot from North Stonington,Conn,

Interested onlookers included Marti-" j/arbur- ton, England, now working temporarily on a farm in Portland,Conn.during a stay in the United States. 'Io said he hoped to bo able to take some of th American square dances back to England. Miss Auno Pulkkinen of Finland was also very much impressed with the festival,comparing it to some of the midsummer festivals of her own la d.

Some of the best callers of Conn.were there to call for tho general dancing. They included: Pop Smith, Wins ted; Deke Fowler, New Iiaven;Bob Mac- Lean, Portland;Grovor Harlow,Storrs;Bob Brundage, Stepny;and Phil Green,Springfield,Mass as guest callcr. Warren Schmidt,University of Conn.diroe od the festival. Music for the dancing was fur- nished by A1 Brundage's Pioneers,and before the start of the party the Stafford Springs High School Band gave a band concert.

This was the bost of the many festivals here. Not only in attendance,but in the dancing abil- ity of the participants. 32 Waterbury,Conn.Jamboree

A crowd estimated by police at close to 7000 spectators and dancers made a success of this city's first seeiaro dance jamboree. Sponsored by The Republican-American and the Waterbury Park Department the event was held at the big Watertown Ave.recreation area. Long before the first dance,the stadium be- gan filling up with hundreds of people filing into the stands in a constant stream. By 8 p.. . when the grand march got under way,tho capacity of the grandstand had been reached and several thousand encircled the football field which ser- ved as a dance floor.

Tho music was in charge of Bob Terrell,who also introduced the exhibitions'groups from Wol- c o 11., T1 loma s t on, and Beth&ny. Guest callers were:Deko Fowler,Pew Kavenj Eddie Gangloff and Charlie Dubis of Thomaston; G corge Barba,BranfordjGeorge Hresko,Watertown; and Bob Richardson,Torrington.

Youngest dancer participating was Bill Rogers 11,of Wolcott,while the eldest was Charles Fon- niman,65,of Cornwall. Fifty members of the Mad River Grange headed by A.Iv.Warren,Master,and James Brasilia 11,served as a reception committee to welcome the. visitors many of whom came from all parts of Few England, and as far away as Cleveland,Ohio.

Pittsfield,Mass.Festival Bad weather earlier in the day and a conflict with other scheduled events cut down the attend ance at the first annual Berkshire County Square 33 )ance Festival,but it didn't dampen the enthusi ism of the 900 present. Had the wet weather continued,it was planned bo move the party to the Armory. Mother Nature same through in fine style with a fine cool even ing marred only by the famous Wahconah Park mo3 ^uitos. Fifteen sots of dancers were ready for the first quadrille. Later,there were a3 many as twenty five sets taking part.

George Milne was master of ceremonies and the guest callers were:Pop Smith,Winstod,Conn.Jim Willis, Pitts-field, Mass.; Ed Durlacher,Freoport, N.Y.;Corky Calkins,South Hadley,Mass.;and Law- rence Loy, Amherst,Mass.

While satisfied that the festival would break even,Park Superintendent Jackson J.Perry stated "It won't conflict with the GE's vacation anoth- er year,and we won't have it the same day as Tangi.wood on Parade." A great deal of credit for starting a square dar.ou festival in the area sho\ild go to Pop Smith,Winsted,Conn.caller,who has played for weekly dances at the Armory the past season. He is the ono who sold the idea to the Park Depart? Eiont. Brockton Fair Festival

Brockton Fair v/ont all out for square and folk dancing this year. Observers and partici- pants say that the results wore sensational. Throngs of people looking on at the demonstrat" ions and taking part in the general dancing.

Saturday afternoon's program was largely de- voted to young people,ranging from 6 year olds 34 to teen agers. On this program tho following groups took part:EB Teens;Junior Hoodownors; Small Fry Hoedowners;Young People of Hingham; Junior Lithuanian Dance Group of Boston;Younger Greek Girls Danco Group of Brockton;Girl Scouts of Brockton;Yankoe Whirlers. Junior callers were:Jimmy McGowan;Stuart Keith;Patty Sylvia. Senior callers were:Doris Raymond;Eva Jackson; Ted Webster.

Saturday evening was Old Fashioned Hoc Down Night with three demonstration groups:Boston YWCA;Second Congragational Church Square Dance Club of Attloboro;Satucket Barn Dancers. Tho rest of the evening was devoted to general dan- cing with the following callers:Lawrence Loy; Miss Louiso Chapin;Jim & Bill Thompson;Howard Hogue;Richard Keith;Howard McGowan;Charlie Bald win.

Sundav afternoon saw manr international groups exhibiting :J2ire Society of Boston;Miss Mary C.O'keefo,leader;Greek Girls of Brockton; Mrs Fotis Othon,lcader;Garden State Dancers of Now Jersey;Rod LaFarge,leader;Swedish Folk Danco Club of Bos ton; Axel Spongberg,leader;Pawtucket YtfCA Group;John Kenyon, .loader; Portugese Dance Group of Taunton;Manuel Garcia,leader;Lithuanian Dane- Group,Boston;Mrs Gna Ivaska,leader;Snglish Country Dance Society,Boston;Miss Louiso Chapin, leader;Satucket Barn Dancers;Charlie Baldwin, leader;Israeli Dance Group of Boston;Judah Stone leader;Kobzars,Ukrainian-American Civic Organi- zation of Greater Boston;Melvin J.Zolechivsky, leader;.

Music for general dancing on all programs was by The Country Dance Seranaders of Nowell, Mass.and tho honorary director was Lawrence Loy Amherst,Mass.Joe Perkins,TopsfieId,was another of the excellent callers for general dancing. 55 r Tho dancing of tho exhibition groups was of a high order of excellence, MarSy of the groups have been dancing for years,and several have demonstrated their dances at the New England Folk Festival in Boston In previous years. Plenty of public participation made this a most enjoyable festival from the general public viewpoint. The more dancing for all,the more successful is a festival,and the more goodwill created. Thj editor of Northern Junket believes that more interest is aroused among new dancers by one small festival than in all the big rogio nal and national affairs in the world. 'rC VCir i* Tin TOWN CRIER

ied: Augus t, 27. Mis3 Alice Rose Fairfield X W;f ~~ and John J.McKenna.At \ Our Lady of the Snows, —>^""7. Dublin, N. IT. A reception was hold in the homo of the brido1 s parents, Mr. & Mrs.Romeo Fairfield. Born:To i,Ir.cc Mrs.Herman E.Glinos,Wilton,N.H. July 15,a son,David Wayne. Northern Junket recommends to all lovers of New England the new Ben Ames Williams book; "Fraternity Village'1. A collection of short stories intended primarily for those who have read them before,and wish to read them again. 36 They are arranged chronologically,the first ono being written in 1919 and the last in 1940.There are some good dog stories and absorbing foil: tales and plenty of good Maine talk. Attention all lovers of folk dance camps:write to Jane Farwell,Dodgeville,Wisconsin,for infor- mation about her Christmas Camp to be held right after the holiday. Belmont Country Dance Club started its 10th year Thursday,Oct.6.Information about joining this group nay be obtained by calling Philip Sharpies 17 Farrar St.Cambridge,Mass. Worcester,Mass.Square Dance group got underway Monday,Oct.10th.Parties are held alternate Mon- day nights.For further information contact Mr. Henry Bartlett at the YMCA,Main St.Worcester. The YWCA,140 Clarendon St.Boston,opened its reg- ular weekly classes in American squares and con tras,7:30-3:30 Tuesday night Oct.4.Classes thi3 year are for 16 weeks.Register with the Health Education Department. Want to go to a huskin'bee?Than drive down to . Barestable,Mass.Oct.15,and start looking for red ears. The Barnstable Women's Club is stag- ing the event with the Hew Haven Railroad,which is running a special train from Boston.After the bee tht.re will be an eld fashioned Cape Cod coun try sapper and a square dance. Eurl Ives,America's top folk singer>gave a con cert before a packed house in Symphony Hall,Bos ton,Gee.1. The annual district convention of the Polish Falcon^ was recently held In Lawrence,Mass.Tho highlight of the meeting was the old Polish dan ces performed in costume by many of the groups. Deke Fowler,New Haven,Conn.caller is planning a two months square dance information trip in the far west and southwest. Miss Hope Moody,of the Maine Extension Service has accepted a similar position in Wyoming.Bet she starts a square and folk dance group -there.

\ NORTHER N JUNKET, Monthly, Vol. 1; No. 6,1949 Two dollars a year,20/ per copy Make checks or money order payable to Ralph G»Page,182 Pearl St.Keene,N»H.

Editor Ralph Page Associate editors—- Joe Blundon Gil Daniels

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